Running, it’s what we do, and what we love! We welcome all abilities, and the run is really just a means to an end to get to meet someone and have a drink and a chat. Find out more about where and when we run below…
HITCHIN
Where it all began! Our Hitchin group set out with small acorns as a Mikkeller Run Club back in January 2019.
Today we have over 300 members with a wide range of activities on offer.
We run every Thursday, but sometimes from different locations and with different themes, so once again we advise people to sign up to our Spond Group to get hold of all the deets, you can do that here: sign up here
BISHOP’S Stortford
Our newest Community in Stortford opened it's doors for running in September 2023.
Currently running on the last Thursday of the month, there's a good old fashioned 5k to get stuck into, followed by socials with some fine people, and some finer beers!
You can keep up to date with all of their goings on through the Stortford Spond Group: sign up here
WHERE NEXT?
Well, that would be up to you...
We'd love to have more communities that join us and share our ethos. We believe that running groups should be built around both body and mind wellbeing, and while a beer or two helps support the chat, that's not essential by any means.
If you'd be interested in possibly setting up a like minded group then get in touch!
FAQ
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Just turn up really! There’s no membership scheme or fee to pay.
It does help if you can sign up to our Spond group though. This basically tells you when we are running, where and what time we will meet, and where we will be running, usually including a link to Strava where you can download the route to your phone or watch (here’s the link: https://club.spond.com/)
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We welcome absolutely all running abilities - all runners are simply encouraged to run at their own pace. That means you can walk the route if you’d prefer, in fact you don’t even have to do our route! As we state we are 2/3 social to 1/3 run group, so our emphasis is undertaking a shared experience of exercise but then coming together to meet and get to know one another after the hard work has been done!
If you’re not sure of the route or where you’re going, or you’d just like a buddy to run with - just let our run leader know on the night. We publish all of our routes on the Spond event pages - so strongly advise that you join your respective community on the Spond App, you can find the link to join throughout our website!
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Again, not really - we are just here for a bit of a laugh really.
Sometimes we do more training-based sessions - but more as a chance to try something new.
However, if you’re after a run club that will look to train you and focus on improving you as a runner we may not be the best group for you. We’ve put some suggestions below for other local running groups if that’s what you’re looking for, but you’re still more than welcome to join us as well.
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Nothing, just turn up and run! Of course, if you want a beer or a drink after the run then bring some money for that, but there’s no membership fee as such.
In fact, on the first Thursday in Hitchin and the last Thursday in Stortford Beer Shop kindly give you a half-price first drink!
However, if you’d like to support our community, and help it grow you can donate that half-price gift back to the Community.
All of the money we raise from that goes either back to the run community, to a dedicated charity, or to building on our community support aspirations. We also make a very small amount on some of the merchandise items we sell - and again we pump that money back into our community.
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What!!!??? Not really - we won’t hold it against you (too much) - the Beer Shop and Kite, and other venues that we run from usually serve a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks - and you never know you might acquire a taste for it.
WANT MORE RUNNING?
We are so lucky to live in a county blessed with lots of running opportunities! So if you don’t enjoy our vibes, or sometimes you just want to get out for an extra few k’s we are surrounded by so many other opportunities. In Hitchin, there are our friends and buddies, the Fussey and Baer Run Club running early doors on a Wednesday and Saturday morning, with a half-price coffee thrown in for good measure. We also have the legendary Hitchin Hares who also run twice a week (Wednesdays and Sundays) starting from just round the corner of HQ in St Mary’s Square. Otherwise, just nearby, there are North Herts Road Runners, Stevenage Striders, Fairland Valley Spartans, and of course the lovely Stopsley Striders.
Bishop’s Stortford is also blessed to have Bishop’s Stortford Running Club. If you want to know more about any of them, please do just ask. We have several members who cross over and have experience of many of the groups, so can give you advice on what might meet your needs most!